IKED is an independent international think-tank engaged in action-oriented policy analysis in support of innovation, use of information and communications technology (ICT), and entrepreneurship. Since its inception in 2002, IKED has worked with a range of governments, policy organisations and also private ventures in the development and implementation of concrete reform processes.

Bringing together core staff as well as its global network of associated in-depth expertise, IKED cuts across traditional geographical, sectoral and disciplinary boundaries in addressing key strategic issues related to the ascent of the knowledge-based economy.

IKED is engaged in capacity building related to innovation and the use of ICT in a number of countries around the world. The organisation has also undertaken a number of initiatives to arrange with a stronger user-orientation in ICT governance. It prepared, launched and served as the supporting platform for the inception of the Global Trust Center, operating as secretariat for its policy leg consisting of the International Council with representatives from more than 30 countries worldwide. IKED further carries extensive experience in analysing and bringing together key stakeholder on issues of authentication, identity management, privacy, security and trust in the digital world. It also works closely with the International Academy of Entrepreneurship (intentac) and the University of Entrepreneurship and Technology Foundation (IUET) in supporting new forms of university-industry collaboration and new entrepreneurial ventures that are international from the outset.

Partners

Fraunhofer ISST is one of the 80 research institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Founded in 1949, the research organisation undertakes applied research that drives economic development and serves the wider benefit of society. Its services are solicited by customers and contractual partners in industry, the service sector and public administration. The organisation also accepts commissions from German federal and Länder ministries and government departments to participate in future oriented research projects with the aim of finding innovative solutions to issues concerning the industrial economy and society in general.

The research focus of Fraunhofer ISST is on information logistics and continuous software engineering. Core domains of application are healthcare, public administration, automotive and housing. The Department of Secure Business IT Infrastructures (SBI) is doing R&D in the area of large scale infrastructures. Special interests are in security architectures and the evolution of existing corporate networks.

The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is the largest Belgian academic institution and one of the oldest European universities. Many KUL researchers are permanently working in the area of information security. They belong to different departments with a strong tradition in multidisciplinary research in this domain. KUL participates in the consortium with two departments:

Department of Electrical Engineering, research group “COmputer Security and (Industrial) Cryptography” (COSIC), and

The research focus of COSIC is on Computer Security and (Industrial) Cryptography. COSIC belongs to the Electrical Engineering Department of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. It was established in 1978 and started immediately conducting basic research, applied research and contract research. COSIC has more than 60 researchers with experience in discrete mathematics, cryptology, hardware- and software implementations, networks and computer systems. COSIC gained thorough experience in privacy-enhancing technologies, identity management, trusted computing and the design and analysis of cryptographic algorithms, protocols and architectures, through a long history of participation in collaborative projects with industry. Since the mid eighties, the group provides consultancy services to a large number of companies and governmental institutions.

Electronic Communications Law: international telecommunications law, European competition law in the telecommunications market, legal framework for the broadcasting sector, legal consequences of the convergence between the audio-visual and the telecommunications sectors.

ICRI has carried out several studies and consultancy assignments in the field of information technology law and electronic communications. The participation in a large number of European projects has allowed ICRI to develop an international network of contacts in all the Member States of the European Union and beyond. The centre has regular contacts with the public administration of all Member States.

Currently about 60 researchers (FTE) are employed at IAIK, approximately a third of them on basis of regular university budget, the rest paid by third party financing. The eGovernment research unit consists of 13 researchers (FTE). The unit has eSignatures and eID as main research topics.

The eGovernment Innovation Center “EGIZ” has been established as a joint initiative of IAIK and the Austrian Federal Chancellery. The duties of EGIZ include the scientific development of Austrian eGovernment, by carrying out research, continuing this with development and piloting of prototypes, and assisting its deployment to operational environments. The research unit also provides the technology assessment unit of the Secure Information Technology Center Austria (A-SIT) which is a public funded association and that advises the public sector on IT security aspects. A-SIT is the Austrian notified body related to the EU Signature Directive.

As one of the major institutions of higher education in Germany, the university is committed to providing a wide spectrum of disciplines in research and teaching, to generating outstanding achievements, and to breaking new ground through the targeted utilization of the advantages and synergies of interdisciplinary work in research and teaching. In competition with the best national and international universities, Frankfurt University aims to fulfill its training and educational mandates through performance and open-mindedness. The university supports the practical application of knowledge based upon solid fundamental research.

The Chair for Mobile Business and Multilateral Security is part of the Institute of Business Informatics. Enjoying sponsorship by TMobile (the leading German mobile communications provider) the chair focuses its research on innovative mobile networks and their applications, as well as on related issues of security and privacy. Its mission is to find business models and technologies enabling the secure and privacy enabled use of mobile devices and mobile communication for applications and businesses.

Gov2 is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation active in the promotion of e-democracy as an optimal medium for more participatory forms of government. Its founders came from backgrounds in Legislative Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and community activism with the aim of developing tools that would that offer citizens a greater stake in political discourse by enabling them to contribute their ideas, suggestions, and opinions whilst also facilitating and supporting the everyday work of elected officials.

Gov2u focuses on promoting representative and transparent governance by granting the public access to policy making proceedings through the use of ICT, improving the interface between parliaments and citizens by using and testing new methods of civic engagement, promoting efficiency in administrative, communications and information management processes by applying ICT to policy making procedures, and endorsing measures aimed at strengthening interaction between the marginalized and their Governments, globally.

Gov2u has significant experience in various eVoting, eParticipation and eID projects and is internationally recognized as a pioneer organisation in the field of eGovernment. It has participated in a range of large and small eGovernment and eParticipation projects within the EC and with various public administrations around Europe and beyond performing user requirements analysis and scenarios definition along with the development of online models for evaluation of user satisfaction and technical development of participatory online platforms. Major projects that have gained international recognition are the Gov2DemOSS platform implemented in more than 150 local authorities all around the world and in the field of eID, STORK and SPOCS. Gov2u has also extensive experience in both online and offline communications and dissemination strategies, and often plays the role of dissemination manager as well as technical leader.

NorthID Ltd is a Finnish company specialized in online authentication technologies and federated authentication architectures. The customers of the company are financial institutions, public sector organisations and large Internet communities. NorthID is a well-known European expert in the area of international authentication infrastructures. NorthID advisers have long and extensive experience in the Internet authentication technologies and Internet community development and particularly deep knowledge of the on-line service development for the financial industry and the public sector.

In the past years, NorthID advisers have participated in several demanding authentication protocol development projects and they can easily combine complex business requirements with the latest technology development.The NorthID advisers have participated in the development of several large messaging architectures, which are used for demanding business messaging. The expertise varies from high volume invoicing architectures to security sensitive messaging, which includes identity data.

NorthID is a well-recognized adviser in the area of international federated authentication architectures. The NorthID advisers have experience of design and implementation of SAML, WSFederation, 3-D Secure, OpenID and Information Cards protocols.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission under the SEVENTH FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME THEME ICT 2009.7.3 ICT for Governance and Policy Modelling. This website reflects the views only of the Consortium, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained herein.